Дети железной дороги
The beginning of things.
"IfMotherdoesn’twantustoknowshe’sbeencrying,"shesaidtoherselfassheheardthroughthedarkthecatchingofherMother’sbreath,"weWON’Tknowit.That’sall."
Whentheycamedowntobreakfastthenextmorning,Motherhadalreadygoneout.
"ToLondon,"Ruthsaid,andleftthemtotheirbreakfast.
"There’ssomethingawfulthematter,"saidPeter,breakinghisegg."Ruthtoldmelastnightweshouldknowsoonenough."
"DidyouASKher?"saidRoberta,withscorn.
"Yes,Idid!"saidPeter,angrily."IfyoucouldgotobedwithoutcaringwhetherMotherwasworriedornot,Icouldn’t.Sothere."
"Idon’tthinkweoughttoasktheservantsthingsMotherdoesn’ttellus,"saidRoberta.
"That’sright,MissGoody-goody,"saidPeter,"preachaway."
"I’Mnotgoody,"saidPhyllis,"butIthinkBobbie’srightthistime."
"Ofcourse.Shealwaysis.Inherownopinion,"saidPeter.
"Oh,DON’T!"criedRoberta,puttingdownheregg-spoon;"don’tlet’sbehorridtoeachother.I’msuresomedirecalamityishappening.Don’tlet’smakeitworse!"
"Whobegan,Ishouldliketoknow?"saidPeter.
Robertamadeaneffort,andanswered:—
"Idid,Isuppose,but—"
"Well,then,"saidPeter,triumphantly.
